What were you thinking?

Graham Henry is not a bad coach and has been reasonable successful all things considered. However, he is his own worst enemy at times.

Why?

- He way overthinks things and second guesses himself. He often ignores logic and is too controlling. Relax man. Just pick the best players in their respected positions and get on with it.

- He is guilty of selecting "utility" players over specialists.

- What the? Why were players like Hosea Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Rene Ranger and possibly Sean Maitland overlooked for the World Cup? He selected 5 fullbacks and only 1 specialist wing. Ridiculous. Robbie Fruen and Wyatt Crockett could possibly count themselves unlucky too. No back up to Richie McCaw a schoolboy error also. Adam Thompson ain't no back up Mr Henry.

- SBW. Enough said.

Another WC approaching and the wheels are falling off. Mind you, the nuts and bolts were coming loose some time ago.

Please ignore if the All Blacks win the 2011, Rugby World Cup.

Wallabies hold serve against tired looking 'Boks.

The Wallabies outplayed the Springboks last night and deserved their win. In fact, the score line probably flattered the visitors because the home team failed to convert a couple of half chances into points.

The ageing Springboks looked cumbersome at times and the new laws haven't done them any favours. You could say that the home team has simply held serve in the opening 3 games of the Tri Nations but the Rugby proud nation of South Africa will not be happy with their team's performance.

They look battered and bruised and in desperate need of some time off to freshen up. Whether they can or not remains to be seen.

Some of the more senior players of the team look to have lost that spark and there must be question marks about their ability to last through until next year's world cup.

Ageing Springboks have failed to adapt.

It would have been a brave man to predict the outcome of the opening two games of the Tri-Nations this year.

Despite the results, there is not much that separates these two teams, but the Springboks were surprisingly flat and you have to question their level of commitment.

Often games are won or lost before the teams actually hit the field, and this may have contributed to the visitor’s demise. Their lack of preparation might have been an excuse for their lacklustre performance in the first test, but after another week in the country there was only a slight improvement.

There is no doubt that the Springboks have the quality of players at their disposal, but they have let themselves and their country down in recent weeks.

Last season they tended to rely on dominating the set piece, big defence and an accurate kicking game, but under the new laws they have struggled to keep up with the pace of the game. They were never allowed to settle in either Tests, and were always a fraction off the pace.

It is too early to write off the Springboks just yet but unless they adjust their playing style they may struggle.

The 'Boks go down!

It was a great game on the weekend and hats off to the AB’s for the way they played. When it all comes together they are the most exciting team in the world to watch. The Springboks were off their game but credit must go the home team for taking full advantage. They simply out ‘willed’ them.

A week is a long time in sport and the Springboks will come back. They have too much experience and talent not to. They will also be better prepared with the extra week in NZ.

Mils Muliaina stood out and arguably had one of his finest games in the All Black jumper. The time off with injury seems to have done him wonders. Piri Weepu played well when he came on and perhaps deserves a start but it was a night where it was hard to fault anyone.

Richie McCaw v South Africa

Much talk has been made of Graham Henry’s coaching success but let’s not forget, when Richie McCaw is playing, the AB’s don’t lose many.

However, South Africa and South African teams, are the exception of late. Up until last year, Richie McCaw’s mere presence in a side meant that they were odds on to win.

There are few players in the world that have the kind of influence on a team that he does but against South Africa last year and to a degree, against the top 2 South African sides, the side he was playing in, albeit the Crusaders or the AB’s, came up short.

Teams certainly don’t rely on 1 man but for South Africa or South African teams, to have that kind of dominance over a Richie McCaw led side in recent times, is a testament to how well they are going.

Crystal Ball Gazing 2011 Rugby World Cup

Its early days but I can't help sense that the All Blacks are making the same mistakes all over again leading into next year's World Cup. Here are a couple of reasons why...

First it was the signing of Sonny Bill Williams because although it doesn't guarantee his inclusion in the World Cup Squad not selecting him would be an expensive mistake.

Secondly, Graham Henry's selections are still erratic at best and he just can't seem to make up his mind. The rotation policy was supposed to be dead and buried but it appears to be rearing its ugly head again.

Thirdly, their experiment with converting players into unfamiliar positions is a strange one indeed.

Fourthly, the NZRFU has just announced a huge bonus for all players involved in winning the World Cup. Just what they need, some added pressure!

Last but not least the All Blacks starting XV isn't that strong. Sure they appear to have plenty of depth and there is probably little difference between their 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams ranked teams but they have few truly world class players and the timing of the World Cup for some players is not favourable. Players like Tony Woodcock, Kevin Mealamu, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith and Mils Muliaina are a handful of players that might be past their best by the time of the World Cup. Unfortunately, they make up a core group of players deemed necessary to win the World Cup. An interesting dilemma for the coaching panel nonetheless.

Prediction: South Africa v France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final. Remember, you heard it here first.

What's happened to running?

Rugby teams and/or players for that matter don't seem to go on road runs like they used to.

Why has it fallen out of favour?

On the Clint Eastwood produced movie, Invictus, it was interesting to see the Springbok side going for regular team runs and perhaps it was no coincidence they eventually won the World Cup.

There seems to be trend for high intensity type training, rigorous gym sessions, multi skilled training sessions etc to sharpen skills and build muscle but at what cost? These sessions are often divisive because each player has to train according to their specialist role in the team but the opportunity cost is that they don't get to train together.

Good old fashion road running for example helps build stamina and endurance. It helps you focus and the onus falls back on the players to pace themselves like you would in a game. Doing it with your team mates can help build morale also that is sometimes lacking in other training methods.

Neemia Tialata Signs Cop Car

After originally declaring on Twitter that he 'just got pulled up by a cop to sign the bonnet of his car' regular twitterer and the incumbent All Black front rower, Neemia Tialata (twitter.com/neyza3), had to later admit to his concerned followers that 'he didn't pull me over it's my Cop/Trainer mate that wanted me to sign his car.'

Not entirely sure of the facts but it looks like the NZ Herald is now running a story on Sunday about this picture of him signing his mates car. Apparently Jerry Collins did something similiar a few years ago. Tialata wasn't particulary happy and said 'no more pics because some people like to take it too seriously & waste news paper/news space! Booo #media, a big thumbs down..!'

Looks like I have managed to waste a bit more space but let's see what happens.

Bring Back Buck?

The All Blacks don't seem to have a specialist number 8 of any great quality at the moment and I have an idea.

Many may argue that converted number 8, Kerian Read is the answer but I am not convinced. Don't get me wrong he is a handy player and is obviously well respected by his peers but just don't think he is the long term answer at 8 for the All Blacks.

There just doesn't seem to be anyone else putting their hand up at the moment. Short of making a comeback myself maybe it's time to bring back Buck? Fit or not just get him on the field. His presence alone might be enough to strike fear into the opposition.

If Wayne 'Buck' Shelford was playing you could rest easy because it was almost inevitable that the All Blacks would win. In fact, apart from being a member of NZ's first and only World Cup winning side, he captained the All Blacks undefeated from 1987 to 1990.

He encompassed everything that was great about Rugby. He showed great leadership, respect, toughness and most of all, was humble. Qualities that may elude some of the players running around these days.

However, it got me thinking, is there anything else you would like to bring back from the good old days or Rugby that's perhaps missing in the modern era?

Rugby Terminology Is Becoming Americanised

With the embers, from the recently completed Super 14, still smouldering it might be a good time to reflect on a subtle change that appears to be taking place. Is it me or is there a hint of ‘Americanism’s’ or ‘Americanisation’ associated with Super Rugby these days?

Perhaps it’s stating the obvious, and to quote Jerry Seinfield, “not that there’s anything wrong with that”. It just seems to be more obvious of late.

Many might argue that it’s just part and parcel of the professional era and modelling a successful formula is a no-brainer. But since when did we start using words traditionally associated with American sport to describe rugby?

The following are just a few examples that seem to becoming more noticeable of late, and there are most likely others that have surfaced also.

‘Franchise‘ has replaced province or State; semi-finals are now considered ‘playoffs‘; and the word ‘conference‘ is now used to describe the three competing countries.

Just wondering if this is a deliberate ploy, or like ‘creeping moss’, has crept into the game over time – or is that ‘ball game’ over time?

Culturally, it seems to be a shift in the way rugby is now described, and those that still prefer a meat pie smothered in tomato sauce over a hotdog with ketchup may become an endangered species at this rate.